Thais join with Mastercard to promote secondary cities

“We want visitors to experience the unique charms of other destinations outside Bangkok, such as the Lanna culture of Chiang Mai, and the top-ranking beachside cities of Pattaya and Phuket,” said Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT deputy governor for marketing communications. “About half of tourists in Thailand are repeat visitors. We want to let them know that there are other good places to visit within the country.”

A major part of the campaign is the publication of the Amazing Thailand guidebook on each one of the three destinations. The nearly 200-page destination guides provide easy-to-read information on hotels, dining outlets, shopping centres, recreational and leisure services and many more. The guidebooks contain specially designed privileges to Mastercard holders who use their card in their visit to these three destinations.

“Regardless of the type of card, we are offering up 50 percent discount on services of more than 180 participating merchants,” said Eileen Wee, vice-president and country manager for Thailand of Mastercard Worldwide, adding that local bank partners have shown great enthusiasm to the campaign following the success of the first Amazing Thailand project which featured Bangkok.

The credit-card company will produce a special brochure, map and mini-CD with the same contents as the guidebooks for distribution to its local partners and offices worldwide.

The campaign, which runs until the December 2009, is expected to bring more short-haul travellers from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan among others.